It's hoped a series of photographs of Broken Hill images on show in Melbourne this week will spark a conversation about preserving Australia's industrial heritage.

Artist Jane Brown was in Broken Hill recently photographing the Line of Lode, disused industrial buildings and mining relics on display in the town.

Ms Brown's series of photos pay homage to late industrial photographer Wolfgang Sievers, who did commercial photography in Broken Hill during the 1950s.

She's described the town as an "open air museum" but says her photos reflect the great decline there's been in mining and manufacturing in the last half century.

"Working in Broken Hill was quite difficult, I found the light so bright at one stage my eyes were just watering," she said.

"I think there's a sense of pride of what they achieved in their working life and I suppose it does worry me as we move away from that sort of employment that sense of pride and achievement is also lost.

"If my work does highlight this that's fantastic, I hope it does and I hope we do honour our manufacturing and industrial heritage."